Surrogacy abroad, any experience?

[Tanya87xz]

Hi everyone, as you may have seen from the topic, we are looking for some advice on surrogacy agencies abroad. Recently after a surgery i've undergone, there is no chance for me to carry a pregnancy and surrogacy remains the only way for us to get our baby. If anyone been int he same situaton and wants to share some info i'd be very grateful!
thanx!

I have gone through it and have children this way. Met 20+ couple personally who have gone through the same journey. It is legal in Georgia (country), US and Canada. There is a support group on FB.

Ignore all the haters on MN who are not even answering your questions.

There are multiple FB groups you can join for IP (intended parents) in the UK looking to have surrogacy aboard.

There is a lawyer who specialise in surrogacy law in the UK and has successfully helped many parents obtain parental/ adoption order.

https://surrogacylawyers.co.uk/surrogacy-surrogacy-abroad/

Best to get legal advice than the MN trying to interpret English law.

Anybody who earns a living out of selling human life is abhorrent.

Christ knows how that “lawyer” sleeps at night.

Anyone who uses the childish word 'haters' is immediately signalling that they are a fool. I've reported that post as spam. Fairly sure it's attempting to drum up business for the lawyer.

People are answering the request for advice on agencies abroad. The advice is not to do it as it is ethically abhorrent.

If advocating for vulnerable women and children makes me a hater, so be it.

Something being legal where you live doesn't make it moral or ethical. Purchasing a baby from any woman, anywhere should be banned.

That the sale of humans exists as an industry is shocking in this day and age.

It's not only the sale of babies. It's also the exploitation and endangering of vulnerable women to satisfy the desires of a comparatively wealthy person or couple. Research shows a surrogate pregnancy is higher risk than carrying your own child. If donor eggs are used, that is another woman endangered and exploited.

Just out of interest, is surrogacy where money doesn’t change hands still an issue for you then? For example if I offered altruistically to carry for my sister? I’m asking as I don’t know anyone personally who has been a paid surrogate but I know of two people who have been or have used altruistic surrogates. One who had a SIL who offered to carry a baby for her (embryo made with her own egg) and one who was a surrogate for her gay best friend and his husband after completing her own family and offering to help them do the same. She’s the child’s godmother and they remain close. Are people still ethically
opposed in these situations without the huge income disparity and the “rich woman buying poor woman’s baby” narrative? I wouldn’t take part in paid surrogacy and nor would many others but would everyone say no to helping a family member?

I'm a bit more on the fence with altruistic surrogacy. The increased risks associated with a surrogate pregnancy need to be made clear to the surrogate and I'm not sure that is always done.

The other issue is the potential trauma to the baby. If the surrogate has an ongoing and deep relationship with the child, then it may be possible to avoid this. However, that relationship would need to include the surrogate in extended daily contact for quite an amount of time post birth.

That makes sense! I was just wondering as so many of the arguments against seem to focus on “buying babies from trafficked or exploited women” which obviously everyone can agree is wrong! I’ve always found the idea of altruistic surrogacy to be a bit more ethically complex.

The reality is, the vast majority of surrogacies are commercial, including many so called altruistic ones. The term "pregnancy expenses" is very vague and doesn't have an upper limit as far as I'm aware? I also have a major issue with countries who ban some types (usually commercial but can be both) surrogacies domestically but allow foreign surrogacies. It stinks if racism.

Another case of exploitation allowed by the family court.

x.com/wombsnotforrent/status/1891427768996368582?s=46

well, usually the pregnancy expenses are all the costs needed to be covered during the pregnancy and are not the costs that a surrogate receives directly into her pocket

the surrogacy must be strictly regulated, that's the point

That is the case in The UK I believe but not in many countries and women most certainly do it for money, its not wealthy women doing it thats for sure.
Even in The Uk "expenses" are open to a certain amount of interpretation.

i agree, there might be a room for some hidden payments in there...
anyone till the women do it on their will - i don't see any trouble

I see you are considering doing this in Mexico
Why do you think a woman from Mexico would have a baby for you if she didn't need the money?
Do you think Mexico is full of empowered women with a decent standard of living who just love being pregnant so much that they want to have a baby for someone else?
Or maybe they just feel so sorry for people who have infertility issues that they are happy to carry and give away a baby?

Pick whichever one of those makes you feel better

So why not do it at home in the UK where there are strict laws to protect the surrogate?

IVF pregnancies are more likely to result in complications. Pregnancy and childbirth (especially in the UK with its failing maternity services) are risky. If the law actually required full insurance coverage for the real risks - including risks of incontinence etc that only emerge later in life - then it would be far more expensive / potentially prohibitive. These risks are seldom discussed or covered.